The RITE (Rotary Intercountry Teacher Exchange) program was started in our District by Ralph and Armida Hight in 1996. It began as a joint project of the Rotary Clubs of West Wichita and West Sedgwick County–Sunrise and has grown to involve additional clubs in our District. In 2010, Dalia Hale (WSC-Sunrise Rotarian) and Shelli Kadel (former WW Rotarian) took on the responsibility of organizing this program. The Inbound portion of the project includes receiving teachers from Panama and Argentina for 4 weeks mid-January to mid-February and involves lining up host families, planning activities and school schedules. The Outbound portion involves selecting and sending teachers from the Wichita area to Panama for 4 weeks during their summer break.
Today, our Outbound teachers will share about their experience in Panama this summer.
Katie Brinkman is a Spanish teacher at Wichita Southeast HS. She began her teaching career at Wichita Southeast HS in 2018.
Leury Balcacer is a New York City native who moved to Wichita with her family in 2017. Her teaching experience began in a Global Learning Institute for Girls Charter School in the Bronx from 2011- 2017. Her current time in Wichita includes 2020-2024 at Horace Mann as a First-Grade teacher at Horace Mann Dual Magnet K-8 School. She spent three years from 2017- 2020 at Child Start Head Start in Wichita.
Katie and Leury both served teachers of English in a seminar setting for a two-week training and an additional two weeks with teachers in the schools. They were supported and hosted by the Club Rotario de David, in David, Chiriquí, Panama.
Angela Taylor began her teaching career in 2014 as PK teacher in the Wichita Public Schools. She moved to the Wichita Diocese in 2015 as a Kindergarten teacher. Currently, she is a middle school Spanish teacher at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School. Angela traveled to the Boquete area to serve teachers in a seminar setting and was hosted by the Rotary Club of Boquete- Sunset. Due to a prior commitment, Angela is not able to join us today.
TODAY'S MEETING: We will have our annual Foundation drawing for a week's stay at the Bowles' Colorado cabin. Anyone who contributed $100 or more to The Rotary Foundation during the 2023-24 Rotary year will be eligible for the drawing. We will also have the PHF group drawing to see who is named a Paul Harris Fellow this year!
OPEN WORLD PROJECT
It was a successful week of hosting the Open World Team; a project our club takes on every other year. A big thanks to Mark Hansen, Ed Frey, DeAnn Sullivan, Brian Goudie & John Mosley for their leadership & participation with this project and to the additional volunteers who served as hosts and/or drivers representing our club and area Rotary clubs: Fred & Joyce Heismeyer, Greg & Robyn Sullivan, Kurt & Kelly Harper, Mark & Lesley Hazleton, Pam & Doug Chambers and Shelli & Craig Kadel.
The Open World Team from the country of Georgia were introduced at last week's meeting.
Pickleball was a popular choice as an outing for the Open World Team, shown in the picture on the left. Pictured on the right: the Open World Team, DeAnn Sullivan, and Satellite club members.
TOGETHER, WE SEE A WORLD WHEREPEOPLE UNITE AND TAKE ACTION TO CREATE LASTING CHANGEACROSS THE GLOBE, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IN OURSELVES
Rotary Vision Statement
2024-25 Board of Directors
President - Ed Frey
President-Elect - Mindy Wagner
Secretary – Jodi Barnwell
Treasurer - Scott Hinderliter
Club Service - Annie Pfeifer
Community Service - Jacob Beckman
International Service - Brian Goudie
Vocational Service - Stephanie Flaming
Foundation - Cindy Hand
Membership & P.R. - Wade West
Immediate Past President - Colby Reynolds
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER!
Rotary District Booth
Kansas State Fair
Tuesday, September 10
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
We need 12 volunteers to staff six 2-hour shifts, answering any questions about Rotary. A "talking point" sheet will be provided! We are implementing our Club Visioning Plan of canceling a meeting to designate as a Service Day so we will not have a meeting on that Tuesday in order to provide that opportunity for our members to serve. Sign up at today's meeting or email Diane if you are able to help.
CLUB SOCIAL
CHICKEN N PICKLE
1240 N Greenwich Rd
Saturday, August 17th
6:00-9:00pm
Our club will provide a few appetizers. Beverages and additional food items are available on separate tabs. Come to play or just come to mingle! Family members and guests are invited.
CLUB INFORMATION
Last meeting:
Attendance: 53%
Membership: 75 (62 RCWW + 13 Satellite)
Last year:
Attendance: 54%
Membership: 59
Happy Basket: $35
Holiday Raffle: Lori Taylor drew a Queen and won $15 last week.This week, the raffle will be worth $42 plus half of the meeting's ticket sales if an Ace is drawn. Proceeds from the raffle are used to buy groceries for families in need at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Don't forget to pay your
QUARTERLY DUES
JULY STAR CLASS Attendance: Mark Hansen, Jacob Beckman, Roger Bowles, Bob Goebel, and Rick Oglesby
The next STAR Class will be held on August 20 and the topic will be "Membership & Public Relations"
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MEMBERSHIP UPDATE:
Michael Phipps has regretfully submitted his resignation due to health issues. Michael is a Charter Member of our club, and has demonstrated the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self" throughout his membership. As part of our "Long Term, Resigned Member" program, he and Ann Marie will be invited to join us at our annual Christmas luncheon, along with our Annual Wine Dinner Event, to honor his involvement with that event over the years.
